Rail torpedo fork



13. 17, 1946. E PAR E 2,412,746

RAIL TORPEDO FORK I Filed Aug. 9. 1944 Inventor Mazzrald librkerw Patented Dec. 17, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT. orr ce RAIL 'ronrnno FORK Edward A. Parker, Redmond, Oreg- Application August 9, 1944, Serial No. 548,746

2 Claims. I

This invention relates to a rail-torpedo fork and more particularly to such a fork adapted for the positioning of torpedoes on the rails of a railroad track for use as a signaling device.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved torpedo fork which will permit a torpedo to be placed on a rail from the rear of a moving train.

A further object of this invention is the provision of such a fork which will reliably secure the torpedoes to the rails while the train is traveling at relatively high speed.

A still further object is the provision of such a device so designed as to be readily disengageable from the rails after the torpedo has been seated thereon.

An additional object resides in the provision of a torpedo fork which will be efiicient and reliable in operation, sturdy and durable in construction, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept:

Figure 1 is a, perspective view of the torpedo fork, certain portions thereof being broken away, and

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the fork shown in association with a rail torpedo and a railroad rail, the latter being shown in section.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing there is generally indicated at ill a torpedo fork comprised of a handle, a portion of which is shown at H, having secured thereto as by a screw I2, a bifurcated fork member comprised of a transverse portion [3 adapted to abut the handle and two parallel bars l4 extending therefrom. Members 14 are bent or curved as at l5 to form angularly disposed extending portions l5, adapted to be positioned, in a manner to be described hereinafter, on opposite sides of a railroad rail I! below the ball I8 thereof. Projections 19 extend upwardly at right angles to portions l6. Each of projections I9 is provided with an outwardly flared flange 20 and a notch 2| in the top wall thereof. Notches 2| are adapted to engage the depending spring arms 22 of a conventional rail torpedo 23, flanges 20 serving to prevent disalignment of spring arms 22.

From the foregoing, the operation of the device should now be readily understood.

A conventional torpedo 23 is placed on the top surfaces of projecting members [9, its spring arms engaging notches 22, this operation taking place upon the moving train. The fork I0 is then extended from the rear of the moving train by handle II which, it may here be pointed out, is of a length sufficient to reach conveniently from the rear platform of the train to the rail. Portions I 6 are then placed on opposite sides of the rail and slide therealong until a quick downward pressure is exerted on handle ll. Such downward pressure releases the spring arms 22 of the torpedo from the notches 2| of projections l9 and permits the same to clamp firmly in position about the ball l8 of the rail. The device then slides along the rail until a rail joint is reached, whereupon portions l4 engage the same and cause the arms to slide upwardly about curved portions l5 to disengage the fork from the rail. The device is then withdrawn into the car and reloaded.

In practice, it is sometimes essential to utilize two torpedoes to convey a signal to a following train. For this reason it is desirable -to keep two forks loaded in order that the second fork may be utilized to place a second torpedo at a predetermined distance ahead of the first, while the first fork is being reloaded.

It will now be seen that the use of this device permits the placing of signaling torpedoes without the necessity of stopping the train, and that such torpedoes may be placed accordingly, without the necessity of sending a brakeman or other operator back up the track to the rear of the train in order to provide a suitable margin of safety wherein a following train may stop. Thus the device may be used at the first indication of stopping a train and the torpedoes so positioned a material distance behind the point at which i the rear end of the train finally comes to a stop in order that a following train may be given ample warning of the obstruction to the line.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a device achieving all the objects of this invention and many others including advantages of great practical utility.

. As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described,it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

parallel furcations spaced to loosely straddle a 5 rail, said furcations having their outer extremities bent upwardly, beveled recesses in the outer surfaces of said outer extremities and extending v downwardly from the top edge thereof, said outer laterally and outwardly extending flanges, said recesses receiving and saidrfianges positioning a torpedo on said fork.. I 2. A device for placing torpedoes uponrailwaytracks comprising" a handle, a fork detachablyl 15 secured to said handle, said fork having parallel 4 l furcations spaced to loosely straddle a rail; said furcations having their outer extremities bent upwardly, beveled recesses in theouter surfaces of ,said outer extremities and extending downwardly fromthe top edge thereof, said outer extremities vhaving inward edges formed with laterally and outwardly extending flanges, said recesses receiving and said flanges positioning a torpedo on said fork, said furcations being bent extremities having inward edges; formed with l upwardly,interrnediatetheir length to provide;

convex-shoulders on their lower surfaces, said shoulders constituting cam means engageable "with rail joints to disengage said fork from a rail, I i

" EDWARD A. PARKER. 

